Chapter 25

River had fled his cabin hours ago, away from the woman who occupied his thoughts and feelings. He’d resisted the temptation to go and check on Pippa, when suddenly she stood right in front of him in all her hungover gorgeousness.

His eyes soaked in her appearance, the way she still stirred pulsing desire in him, despite her deranged state. He acutely remembered all the details of her body, when he’d given her a shower last night and his arousal became almost unbearable.

She looked so tiny in his shirt that fell off one shoulder, revealing the creamy skin beneath. He wanted to swoop her up in his arms, press her against his chest and taste her soft skin. But when he met her eyes, she flushed and looked away.

“Can I get you some breakfast?” River asked, intent on not making her feel even worse than she undoubtedly already did.

Pippa swallowed and then met his gaze. “What happened last night?”

“You don’t remember?” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders when the boat bobbed and she swayed on her feet. “The water is a little choppy this morning, even inside the marina. Come sit down before you fall.”

Pippa nodded and allowed him to lead her over to one of the couches. “Thanks.”

“You were at Crazy Drinks getting drunk. Some guys were hitting on you and buying you more alcohol.”

“I remember that part, but I don’t remember leaving the bar.” Her voice was a mere whisper and her eyes revealed the anxiety about what he might say next.

“Be glad the bar keeper was a friend of mine. He recognized you from the day I hired you and called me when it looked like you were in over your head. I arrived just as the guys were trying to take you back to their hotel room.”

“Oh god! Thank you for coming to get me. I’m not normally…in fact, I’ve never done anything like that before. Getting drunk, while alone in a strange bar, is not my usual behavior.”

“I know that. No worries.” Her discomfort hurt his soul and he wanted desperately to make her feel better. “Let’s get some food in your stomach and some painkillers. You’ve got to have one helluva headache.”

“Yes.” Pippa grimaced as she gave him a nod and touched her head in pain. He was already on his way to the galley, when he heard her say, “Wait.”

“What?” He turned around to watch her.

Pippa bit her lip and then directed her gaze to the floor. “Last night…did we…I mean, it’s obvious you changed my clothing…”

“And gave you a shower,” he added, the little devil inside him enjoying the way her skin flushed with embarrassment.

I want to see her flush with desire. For me.

Pippa’s shoulders slumped and she looked like she was trying to disappear into the floor.

“Pippa?” he asked, waiting for her to look at him. When she didn’t, he squatted down in front of her. “Hey, look at me.” She finally raised her chin and he held her gaze. “Nothing happened last night. You got sick over the side of the dock and I cleaned you up and put you to bed. Not that I didn’t want more to happen, believe me I did.” He gave her a charming grin. “But I’m not in the habit of taking advantage of drunk females. I like my women to remember every detail of our encounters.”

Relief flooded her eyes, and she tried to push up from the couch. “I have to go.”

“Where?”

“I need…” Her eyes darted around the room as if searching for something.

“Pippa, where do you have to go?”

“I…,” tears filled her eyes and her shoulders slumped again, “I don’t know. I don’t have any place to go.”

River crossed to her and touched her shoulder. “Then stay here. Please. You can have your old cabin back if you like, you don’t have to stay in mine. I only put you there last night because it was more comfortable and I wanted to be able to watch over you in case you got sick again during the night.” And because I wanted you to be near me. Sense your presence. Protect you. Love you.

“That’s a generous offer, but I can’t accept it.”

“Why not?”

“Because…because…” Her frame shook with violent sobs as his heart shattered into a million pieces.

“Shush, baby. Everything will be fine.” River soothed her with the same words his mother had so often used on him when he was still a kid.

“Nothing will be fine. Ever! You and me…I’ve fallen so hard for you, more than ever before in my life.”

“But that’s a good thing, isn’t it? Because I feel the same for you,” River said, his heart filling with joy at her confession. If he could get her to admit how much she wanted him, he could find another crack in her armor.

“No, it’s not a good thing. This…we…this cannot be. You’re much better off without me. I would only burden you and you’ll start resenting me. You need a woman who wants to live with you on your boat. Not someone like me with nothing more than a broken existence.”

“I can’t imagine being better off without you, baby. In fact I can’t even imagine existing without you. I need you as much as I need air to breathe.” His words surprised him, this kind of poetic talk not his normal modus operandi. But where Pippa was concerned, nothing was normal.

Her eyes widened. “No…no…believe me you’re better off with someone else.”

“Don’t you think that should be my decision, not yours? And I’m pretty confident that I want you. Only you.”